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Io collego la tastiera al computer.

Io collego la tastiera al computer.
I connect the keyboard to the computer.
FromLesson 25inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of Io collego la tastiera al computer.

io
I
il computer
the computer
la tastiera
the keyboard
al
to
collegare
to connect

Questions & Answers about Io collego la tastiera al computer.

Why is Io used in Io collego la tastiera al computer? Do I have to include the subject?
Io means “I,” but in Italian you usually drop the subject pronoun because the verb ending (-o) already shows first person singular. So Collego la tastiera al computer is enough. You include Io only for emphasis or contrast (e.g. “Io collego…” vs someone else).
Why do we say la tastiera with the definite article instead of just tastiera?
Italian uses articles with most nouns: la tastiera means “the keyboard.” If you want “a keyboard” you say una tastiera. Dropping the article (tastiera) is very rare and usually ungrammatical, unlike in English.
What is al in al computer? Why not just a computer?
Al is the contraction of a + il: a (to) + il (the) = al. You need it because computer is masculine singular and takes the definite article il. So “to the computer” = al computer.
How is the verb collegare conjugated here?

Collego is the first-person singular present indicative of collegare (to connect). The pattern is:

  • io collego
  • tu colleghi
  • lui/lei collega …and so on. The ending -o tells you it’s io.
What if I want to say “I connect it to the computer,” replacing “la tastiera” with a pronoun?
You turn la tastiera into the direct object pronoun la, which goes before the verb: La collego al computer (“I connect it to the computer”). The structure is [Direct Object Pronoun] + [Verb] + [Rest].
Can I use different verbs like attaccare or connettere instead of collegare?

Yes, you can often use:

  • collegare (connect/link)
  • connettere (connect, often IT jargon)
  • attaccare (attach/plug, more informal) They’re fairly interchangeable in everyday speech when talking about plugging in a device.
Could I say collego la tastiera con il computer or collego la tastiera sul computer instead of al computer?
No. Collegare requires the preposition a (“to”), so it’s always collegare X a Y (with the article contracted if needed). Con (“with”) or su (“on”) would change the meaning or sound off. So stick with la tastiera al computer.
How would I say “I connected the keyboard to the computer” in past tense?
In passato prossimo you use ho + past participle: Ho collegato la tastiera al computer. Here collegato is the past participle of collegare.
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